The Indians current 12-game winning streak is the longest since 1951; the year “I Love Lucy” debuted on television.
Player of the Game
Danny Salazar pitched brilliantly and earned tonight’s honors.
Feathers Up
The offense woke up in the fifth off Braves starter Joel De La Cruz. Yan Gomes led off the inning with a single to center field. After Tyler Naquin forced Gomes out at second with a fielders choice, Salazar attempted to lay a bunt down to advance Naquin but bunted it too hard. The Braves third baseman Adonis Garcia easily snatched it and got the force-out at second. With two out, Rajai Davis hit a double on a line drive to left field, advancing Salazar to 3rd. Jason Kipnis then singled on a sharp ground ball to left, scoring both Salazar and Davis and breaking the zero-all tie.
With the single, Kipnis now leads the team with 11 RBI during the 12 game winning streak. He has now hit safely in 11 straight games (.262, 11-for-42, 6 extra base hits and 11 RBI), matching Tribe’s longest of the season (Davis, April 13- 29). He is tied for longest active streak in A.L.
Lonnie Chisenhall followed suite in the sixth with a solo home-run to right field, making the score 3-0. Also, it was his 10th RBI during the winning streak.
Another quality start for Danny Salazar as he went 7.0 innings, giving up only five hits, striking out eight and not allowing a run. Of the 98 pitches thrown, 70 were for strikes.
Through 15 starts this season, Salazar ranks among qualified MLB and American League leaders in multiple statistical categories: fewest hits (61) and runs (23) of any qualified starter in baseball this season…is also the American League leader in strikeout percentage (28.3%) and is 3rd in the AL in strikeouts-per-nine innings (10.32). He also leads all Tribe starters in ERA, opponent average, opponent slugging (.286), opponent OPS (.572) and has allowed the fewest hits-per-nine IP (5.84). He has struck-out 107 batters, second only to Corey Kluber’s 110.
Feathers Down
Salazar did throw two wild pitches and balked once on the evening.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 3 – Atlanta Braves 0
On Deck:
Carlos Carrasco will be making his 10th start of the season in the series opener of Cleveland’s four-game series at Toronto tomorrow. He will be pitching on regular four days’ rest after making his last start on June 25 at Detroit as he tossed his seventh career complete game and third career complete game shutout as he allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out seven over 9.0 innings. He has made three career starts against Toronto, going 1-1 with a 7.98 ERA (13ER/ 14.2IP) all-time against the Blue Jays.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
